We know you’ve fallen in love with Argentina, and we also have! If you want to stay for the long run, applying for permanent residency might be your next step. Whether you’re already living in the country or planning a move, this guide walks you through how to become a permanent resident in Argentina. (including requirements, documents, timelines, and essential tips for 2025)
What Is Permanent Residency in Argentina?
Permanent residency (residencia permanente) allows foreigners to:
- Stay in Argentina indefinitely without renewing visas
- Work legally without needing a separate permit
- Access public healthcare and education systems similar to citizens
- Start the path toward citizenship, if desired
It is the most stable legal status you can have before applying for Argentine nationality (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, 2025).
Who Can Apply for Permanent Residency in Argentina?
You can qualify for permanent residency through several different pathways, including:
- Family Ties If you’re the spouse, legitimate or illegitimate child (under 18 or with disabilities), or parent of an Argentine citizen or existing permanent resident, you may apply. This is often one of the most common and streamlined routes to permanent residency.
- After Holding Temporary Residency If you’ve lived in Argentina with valid temporary residency for at least 2 continuous years, you’re generally eligible to apply for permanent status. Common temporary residencies that lead to this path include:
- Digital nomad or general work visas
- Student visas
- Investment or business visas
- Retirement-based residency
This process is officially known as “radicación permanente por residencia temporaria” (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, 2025).
Mercosur National Citizens of Mercosur countries have simplified pathways under regional agreements. If you maintained legal temporary residency in Argentina for 2 years as a Mercosur national, you can typically apply for permanent status under these special provisions (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, 2025).
Documents Required for Permanent Residency
While exact documents may vary slightly by your specific application category (e.g., family vs. temporary residency conversion), most applicants will need to submit:
- Valid Passport: With sufficient validity remaining.
- DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad): If you are already residing in Argentina with a temporary DNI.
- Proof of Legal Temporary Residency or Family Relationship: Depending on your pathway (e.g., your temporary residency card, marriage certificate for spouse, birth certificate for child/parent).
- Birth or Marriage Certificates: Legalized (apostilled in your home country) and officially translated into Spanish by a certified public translator in Argentina.
- Proof of Income or Ability to Support Yourself: Demonstrating sufficient funds or stable income to live in Argentina without becoming a burden on the state. The exact amount varies by case.
- Police Clearance Certificates: From both Argentina (by the National Registry of Recidivism) and your home country (issued within a recent timeframe, typically 90 days, as per Migraciones’ latest requirements), confirming no criminal record.
- Completed Residency Application Forms: These are typically filled out online via the RADEX platform.
- Proof of Local Address: For notification purposes (e.g., rental contract, utility bill in your name, or certificate of domicile).
All non-Spanish documents must be translated by a certified public translator in Argentina (Colegio de Traductores Públicos de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, 2025).
How to Apply for Permanent Residency in Argentina
Step 1: Gather All Documentation Before starting the official application process, make sure you have gathered, legalized (apostilled), and translated all necessary documents.
Step 2: Register for a Radicación Appointment Online Visit the official site of Migraciones Argentina and create an account on the RADEX platform. This is the digital portal for most immigration procedures:
- You will upload scanned copies of all your prepared documents.
- You will select your preferred appointment location (e.g., Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza) and a suitable date.
- You will pay the corresponding application fee online (approximately USD $200 equivalent in Argentine Pesos). (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones – RADEX, 2025).
Step 3: Attend the In-Person Appointment On the scheduled day of your appointment at Migraciones:
- Bring all your original documents for verification.
- You will submit biometric data (fingerprints and a digital photograph).
- You may be asked brief, simple questions about your stay in Argentina and your intention to remain.
- After the appointment, if all goes well, you will receive a provisional residency resolution document while your new DNI is processed.
Step 4: Get Your DNI (Documento Nacional de Identidad) Once your permanent residency application is approved, you will be given a permanent resident DNI, which is typically valid for 15 years. This physical ID card is essential for:
- Fully accessing public healthcare services.
- Registering with other public services (e.g., utilities, social programs).
- Opening traditional bank accounts.
- Signing leases or any legal contracts.
Source: (Registro Nacional de las Personas, 2025).
How Long Does It Take?
- Application review: The processing time for permanent residency applications typically ranges from 2 to 4 months, depending on the complexity of your file and the Migraciones office workload.
- DNI delivery: Once your application is approved, the physical DNI card usually takes an additional 1 to 2 months to be delivered. Timeframes can vary, sometimes being quicker or longer, depending on your application’s completeness and the specific Migraciones office handling your case
Source: (Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, 2025).
Can You Apply for Citizenship After Getting Permanent Residency?
Yes! After 2 years of continuous legal residency in Argentina (which can include your temporary residency period), you become eligible to apply for Argentine citizenship regardless of your nationality of origin. A significant advantage is that Argentina allows dual nationality in most cases, meaning you generally do not need to renounce your current citizenship (Ley N° 346 de Ciudadanía y Naturalización, 2025; Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, 2025).
Añade aquí tu texto de Is Getting Permanent Residency in Argentina Worth It?
Absolutely! If you’re planning to stay in Argentina long-term. Applying for permanent residency gives you unparalleled legal and practical stability. You’ll be able to stay indefinitely without renewing visas, work freely, and integrate more deeply into local life.The process is clear, accessible, and designed to welcome people. With your permanent residency and DNI in hand, you’ll have full access to everything Argentina has to offer!
Useful External Resources for Getting Permanent Residency in Argentina
Migraciones Argentina – RADEX Platform
Official site to start and manage your permanent residency application.
Visit RADEXRegistro Nacional de las Personas (RENAPER)
Information on obtaining your Argentine DNI after permanent residency approval.
Visit RENAPERColegio de Traductores Públicos – Buenos Aires
Certified translators for official Spanish translations of foreign documents.
Visit Colegio de TraductoresANSES – CUIL/CUIT Information
Get or verify your Argentine tax identification number required for residency.
Visit ANSESAFIP – Argentine Tax Authority
Official site for tax obligations and CUIT registration for residents.
Visit AFIP
